Muscle Cramps: Causes, Prevention & Natural Relief

Leg and back cramps can be caused by electrolyte imbalances, caffeine, or specific diets like ketosis. Increasing your intake of potassium and magnesium, particularly for runners and pregnant women, provides effective relief.

How to Soak to Prevent or Relieve Leg Cramps

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Kristen McCarty

Common complaints among athletes include mid-exercise and post-exercise cramping. Muscle cramping is most often brought on by a combination of tight muscles, extreme weather, improper hydration and/or electrolyte depletion.

Kristen McCarty started writing wellness articles for students and faculty in 2007. She has worked as a certified athletic trainer and health educator at the collegiate and secondary school levels. She now writes for LIVESTRONG.COM. She holds a Bachelor of Science in sports medicine concentrating in athletic training from Mercyhurst College and a Masters of Arts in applied physiology from Teachers College-Columbia University.